Footwear removal facilitating device



Jan. 20, 1970 K. 1.. WlLLlAMS FOOTWEAR REMOVAL FACILITATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1967 United States Patent Office 3,490,661 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 3,490,661 FOOTWEAR REMOVAL FACILITATING DEVICE Kenneth L. Williams, 63 Talent, Crescent, Weston, Ontario, Canada Filed Nov. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 681,530 Int. Cl. A47j 51/02 U.S. Cl. 223--114 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to devices for facilitating the removal of outer footwear, by which is meant particularly overshoes and the like, but, in addition regular shoes from off the stockinged feet if desired, the only necessity being the existance of a latch of some kind on the footwear which may be engaged against the undersideedge of what will be herein referred to as the footwearremoval facilitating portion of the device. Overshoes are commonly provided with a projecting latch of the heel whereby one overshoe may be placed under the toe of the other after which the foot contained within the overshoe being removed is lifted. However, ordinary footwear contains a latch in the form of the upper edge of the heel-end of the shoe.

Various devices have been patented for removing outer footwear as aforesaid of which the inventor knows of the following: U.S. Patent 143,408 of Oct. 7, 1873 to F. Dorsett, Sr., U.S. Patent 63,844 of Apr. 16, 1867 to J. D. Boss, U.S. Patent 2,883,097 of Apr. 21, 1959 to T. G. Scardamalia et al, and U.S. Patent 582,484 of May 11, 1897 to J. Pendergast. In all these patents however, what is herein referred to as the device stabilizing portion is positioned exclusively to the rear of what is herein called the removal facilitating portion so that the user has to place the front portionof the sole of one foot on the stabilizing portion and balance himself while removing the footwear with the aid of the removal facilitating portion in line ahead of the stabilizing portion. Such balancing is not easy. However, an important additional limitation of such arrangements is that after removing the first piece of footwear as just described, the user next has to place the foot from which he has removed the outer footwear upon the stabilizing portion to remove the other piece of footwear. If the sole of the footwear is dirty or wet, as from snow, mud or the like, the situation is that the user of such device has to place his or her clean sole of the foot or footwear from which the first outer footwear has been removed on the muddied or wet stabilizing portion.

The important novel features of the inventive concept herein discolsed and in several of the possible forms depicted resides in the provision of a portable footwear removing device in which the user does nothave to place the foot from which footwear is being removed in immediate line ahead or tandem arrangements with respect to the stabilizing foot as aforesaid, but holds the device down from one side and then from the other side according as the right and left piece of footwear is removed. As a result better balance is maintained. However the second important advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that at no time does the user of it have to place the foot from which he has removed an outer piece of footwear onto that portion which was employed for stabilizing the device during the removal of the first piece of footwear. As a result, the user, after having removed both pieces of outer footwear has clean inner footwear or stockinged (or bare) feet.

A further novel feature of the present invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which may be employed in the way which has been described when approached from either end, as for example if the device is in use in public corridors or an office building, or the like.

With the foregoing in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification the present invention consists of the novel concept exhibited in the method, process, construction, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing herein particularly exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the presently preferred form of the invented device.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a first modification of the inventive concept depicting the removal facilitating portions and the stabilizing portions in the form of a stepped foot plate and is a perspective representation of this modification.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective representation of a third modification whereon the user may stand slightly elevated above floor level wherefore it is preferably somewhat longer than the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2. However, if sufiiciently long or if shown cavitations at one end thereof are sufliciently short, like FIGURE. 3, the same may be approached from either direction and hence used for footwear removal at either end thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a fourth modification which, considered in conjunction with FIGURES l, 2 and the embodiment of FIGURE 6 depicts a single foot plate hinged secured for limited vertical rotation or seesawing action upon a centrally positioned supporting understructure so that it would be apporachable from either direction, and the hinged foot plate thereof may be a twin foot plate as in FIGURE 1, or a single foot plate as in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 6 shows a fifth modification of the present invention, which as considered with respect to the full 1 lines and chain lines only is a modifiication of the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 in the sense that it represents an inclined foot plate supported upon an understructure which functions as the device stabilizing portion and upon one or the other end of which the foot is placed for holddown purposes with the removal facilitating portion projecting at an inclination upwards from one side "thereof. The dotted lines of this embodiment depict the same in its capacity as a narrow foot plate modification of FIG- URE 5 wherein either end may be rotated to function as the removal facilitating portion.

In the drawings like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.

Proceeding first to summarize the present invention, and with reference mainly, but not exclusively to the presently preferred embodiment of the accompanying FIGURES 1 and 2, the same consists of a device stabilizing portion generally designated 10, and a footwear removal facilitating portion generally designated 11, it being necessary however to explain at the outset that the two portions are to one side of each other with reference to a central dividing line 12, and this novel characteristic obtains in one way or another in relation to all the embodiments depicted and is of the essence in terms of the inventive concept which is herein described and claimed.

The portions and 11 thus constitute a co-planar and inclined foot plate generally designated 13, the inclination of said foot plate being secured by supporting means generally designated 14 and comprising a block of wood or the like supported on the ground or floor 15 and of course secured to the underside of foot plate 13.

From what has been said it will be appreciated that the device stabilizing a portion (or right and left hand portions) 10, and the footwear-removal facilitating portion (or right and left hand portions) 11 may be described as in diagonal relationship to each other. Nevertheless for best explanation and a definition herein, the side by side relationship of same is resorted to, with respect to the line 12 since such relationship obtains whether the portions are diagonal or not and such a form of reference appears desirable having regard to the several modifications of the inventive concept set forth and particularly as the same is exemplified in such as the accompanying FIGURES 5 and 6.

Proceeding now to describe the several embodiments in greater detail, and continuing in reference first to the accompanying FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that when a user is confronting the device (-by which is meant is facing same as suggested by the miniature footprint representations adjacent FIGURE 1), if the front part of the sole of the foot or shoe (indicated at 15) be placed upon the left side of stabilizing portion 15, the heel of the right hand piece of footwear may be placed in latching engagement beneath the cavitated edge portion 17 of the right hand part of portion 11. In this connection it is to be understood that no novelty is claimed for these cavitated portions per se which are all shown in one way or another in the several patents already cited.

If now the foot is lifted, obviously the overshoe or shoe will be removed according to how it is latched beneath the edge 17 (the inner end 18 whereof is also indicated in the accompanying FIGURE 2). Having now removed the right piece of concerned footwear, the user may now place the front part of the sole of his foot or inner footwear upon the rig'ht hand part of portion 10 (as designated 19) and hook the left heel under cavity 20 which is the left hand part of footwear removal facilitating portion 11.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the user has not had occasion, either in removing the left piece or the right piece of footwear, of placing the sole of his or her foot upon a surface previously employed to hold the device down such as is the case with all the patents which have been cited herein. In addition definitely greater ease of balance is secured in the removal of outer footwear by this means than in having to place one foot in tandem relationship ahead of the other which is not natural, any more than it is natural to walk as on a tightrope, in comparison with walking by progressive diagonal foot placement in the usual way.

Having therefore described the structure and function dictating the present inventive concept in terms of FIG- URES 1 and 2, the following alternative embodiments will be described in order:

In the accompanying FIGURE 3 the footwear removal facilitating portion or platform generally designated 20 is horizontal and elevated to occupy a sub-stratum of the whole stratum of space occupied by the device, :above the sub-stratum occupied by the two right and left hand stabilizing portions 21 and 22. Upon these it is to be understood the user places the sole of one foot while removing the outer footwear of the other by means of the cavities 23 or 24, it being understood that this is an embodiment which may be approached from either direction for this purpose, and parts 20 through 22 including the riser portions or flanges 25 together constitute a stepped foot plate.

The embodiment of FIGURE 4 is one in which'the user mounts onto a horizontal foot plate collectively designated 26 which, like the footplate 13 of FIGURE 1 is to be considered as similarly divided. Since the user must mount the foot plate 26, it is preferably longer than is the foot plate of FIGURE 1 wherein the heel of the stabilizing foot can rest upon the floor 27 which is not the case with the embodiment of FIGURE 4. Although FIGURE 4, like FIGURE 1 is intended to be approached and used from one direction only, although if sufliciently long and if the cavities 28 be not too deep, such cavities could be formed upon the edge 29 and converting this embodiment into one which could be approached from two opposite directions like that of FIGURE 3.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5 there is shown an embodiment which may be approached from either direction. It is to be understood that in plan the embodiment of FIGURE 5 would appear as does the foot plate 13 of FIGURE 1 except that the side edges 30 would be preferably at right angles to the edge 31. In addition, it is to be understood that there will be a pair of cavities such as 17 and 20 of FIGURE 1 at both ends of the foot plate 32 since this is an embodiment which can be approached from either direction.

The foot plate 32 is mounted upon a floor supported transverse supporting means 33 (equivalent to 14 best shown in FIGURE 2). However, the same is preferably of the cross sectional contour depicted and is designed to accommodate the pins 34 of a pair of bearings 35 secured to the underside of and projecting downwardly from plate 32. From the foregoing it will be apparent that if a person is approaching from the right, he will step down upon the part designated 36 (which, at this time will accordingly constitute the device stabilizing portion) while the opposite end 37 will become elevated as indicated in chain lines to constitute the footwear removal facilitating portion. If the user approaches from the left, an opposite situation will be obtained which it is not thought necessary to detail at further length.

In the accompanying FIGURE 6 there is depicted a fifth embodiment or modification of the invention. As considered in full lines and chain lines only, this comprises a single foot plate 38 inclining at an angle over, and secured to an elongated narrow member 39 of a cross section similar to 14 of FIGURE 2. The part 40 of the plate 38 is that which occupies the lower horizontal stratum of the device as-a-whole, edge 41, corresponding to edge 42, in FIGURE 2.

However, in employing this modification, the user will not, in the contemplated use of the device within the inventive concept thereof put his foot on the part 40, but will put his right or left foot upon the projecting extensions 43 or 44 of member 39 according as whether he is removing the right or left hand footwear by hooking the heel of same under the cavity 45. When he does so, and lifts up, obviously part 40 will be pressed downwardly against the floor. Hence it will be apparent that member 39 constitutes, in this embodiment, together with part 40, the device stabilizing portion 46, while the footwear removal facilitating portion is that designated 47.

Considering the modification of FIGURE 6 in relation to the dotted lines as well as the full and chain lines, it is then to be understood as comprising a composite embodiment of the modifications of FIGURE 1, FIGURE 5, and FIGURE 6 as just described. More specifically it is to be explained that plate 38 will be provided at both ends with a cavitationthe cavitation 45 already referred to, and 45' illustrated in dotted lines.

In such case also, member 39 while functioning as the device stabilizing portion as already described will, in addition, accommodate pins 48 designed to extend through a pair of bearings 49 similar to bearings 35. Hence plate 38 will be free to seesaw or rotate vertically as has been illustrated in chain lines in FIGURE 5. The main difference therefore as regards the plates 32 and 38 is that plate 32 is a wide plate, in this respect similar to plate 13 of FIGURE 1, while plate 38 is narrow, and in this re spect like plate 20 of FIGURE 3. Thus the embodiment of FIGURE 6 as including the dotted line features is approachable from either side but with the stabilizing foot placed upon either side of the bar 39, approached from one end or the other of the plate 38 and with due regard to which foot is being used for stabilizing the device and which foot is hooked under the concerned cavity 45 or 45. Obviously, although member 38 has been shown as a narrow member and elongated, it can be any conformation which is desired such as that the projecting portions may be in the form of shallow, floor resting pads if desired rather than bars that project to a considerable height, for the greater comfort of the stabilizing foot.

Reverting to the embodiment of FIGURE 3 it will be noted that if for example the whole left foot were to rest upon the portion 21, or alternatively if the heel of the left foot were to rest upon the far end area of the said portion 21, then, one could remove the right piece of footwear say an overshoe, by putting it under cavity 23 while the sole of the right foot remained on the ground and alongside the left foot. Thus, if only the heel were upon the portion 21 as just indicated, the right overshoe (for example), could be removed without the toe of the right foot being any further advanced than the toe of the left foot and of course, after that, the same would apply with reference to the removal of the left overshoe for instance when the right foot or heel is placed upon the far end of the portion 22. In this event of course, the embodiment would be quite shallow in the sense that the portion 20 might only be elevated slightly with reference to the portions 21 and 22.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed Accordingly, it is intended that what is set forth herein should be regarded as illustrative of such embodiment thereof, and that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection of which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for facilitating removal of footwear from one foot while the device is stabilized by the other foot, said device being formed integrally from one piece of rigid sheet material and comprising an elevated horizontal platform having end edges and a pair of side edges, a pair of flanges connected to and extending downwardly from the side edges of said platform, lower edges of said flanges being parallel with said platform and engageable with a horizontal supporting Surface whereby to sustain said elevated platform in upwardly spaced relation from the stated supporting surface, the end portions of the platform being provided with recesses for the reception and removal of footwear from one selected foot of a user of the device, and a pair of horizontal stabilizing plates connected-to and projecting laterally outwardly from the lower edges ,of the respective flanges, said stabilizing plates being coplanar and engageable with the supporting surface and being adapted to have positioned thereon the other foot of the user while footwear on the first mentioned foot is being removed in either of said recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,844 4/ 1867 Boss 2231 14 89,633 5/1869 Cullen 223- 90,076 5/1869 Brown 223-114 662,440 11/1900 Jaeger 223114 2,725,167 11/1955 Barnes 223113 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,220 7/1889 Switzerland. 3,461 2/1894 Great Britain. 71,126 9/1893 Germany. 229,298 12/ 1909 Germany.

RICHARD J. SCANLON, 111., Primary Examiner 

